title: Primed to perish: heightened mitochondrial priming explains hESC apoptosis sensitivity.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are hypersensitive to apoptotic stimuli, though the underlying mechanisms are poorly characterized. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Liu et al. (2013) report that mitochondria of human ESCs exist in an apoptosis-prone state, ready to act as cellular executioners upon detecting DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Companion Animals, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: n.geijsen@hubrecht.eu.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geijsen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D004249:DNA Damage; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*